Alice-Miranda Shines Bright 8

by Jacqueline Harvey

  ‘Isn’t it wonderful news about Mr Parker?’ Alice-Miranda exclaimed.

  ‘Yes, it certainly is,’ the constable replied.

  ‘How did Mrs Parker take the news that he’s been found but isn’t ready to come home?’ Millie asked.

  ‘I haven’t told her yet. I was at the accident last night and I was the only man available. What with the wild weather, all the other officers from Downsfordvale were busy and, besides, I wanted to tell her myself. I’ve just been around there now but she’s not home. I went to see if Mrs Headlington-Bear knew where Mrs Parker could be but she wasn’t about either.’

  ‘Have you visited Mr Parker?’ Millie asked.

  The constable shook his head. ‘Afraid not. With all this rain, I wouldn’t have a hope of getting across the stream out there at Wood End.’

  Jacinta’s stomach lurched.

  ‘Did anyone else know about Mr Parker?’ the constable asked.

  ‘Just Miss Reedy and us,’ Alice-Miranda informed him. ‘I’m sure that Miss Reedy wouldn’t have told anyone. She said that we should keep it secret until Mrs Parker knew and things were sorted out.’

  Jacinta stepped around the corner into the room.

  Millie jumped. ‘Were you spying on us?’

  The girl shook her head. ‘No. But I think I’ve messed up. Again.’

  Constable Derby frowned at her. ‘Hello Jacinta. What’s happened?’

  ‘I told Mummy about Mr Parker and she was going to tell Mrs Parker.’

  ‘But how did you know?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  ‘I overheard you both telling Miss Reedy last night and I thought Mrs Parker would be so grateful to know,’ Jacinta replied. ‘I thought I was doing the right thing. Please believe me.’

  ‘But we told Miss Reedy that Mr Parker wasn’t ready to come home yet.’ Millie’s eyebrows knotted together fiercely.

  ‘I didn’t hear that part. I promise,’ the girl pleaded.

  ‘Oh dear.’ The constable shook his head. ‘Let’s just hope that Mrs Parker and your mother didn’t try to get to Wood End last night.’

  Jacinta’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.’

  Alice-Miranda put her arm around her friend. ‘It’s all right. I’m sure that they’ll be fine.’ Alice-Miranda was glad Jacinta couldn’t see her face, because in truth she wasn’t sure at all.

  ‘I’ll head out that way now,’ the constable said. ‘If your mother and Mrs Parker tried to get there last night, they’re most likely bogged on the track somewhere.’

  ‘We could go on the ponies,’ Alice-Miranda offered. ‘But we’d have to ask Miss Grimm.’

  At that moment, the doors to Miss Grimm’s study opened and the headmistress emerged.

  ‘Good morning, Miss Grimm,’ the group chorused.

  ‘Hello everyone,’ the headmistress said slowly, as she looked at her unexpected visitors. ‘Why are you crying, Jacinta?’

  Jacinta shook her head and remained silent.

  Alice-Miranda launched into the story of how she and Millie had found Mr Parker. ‘. . . And now we think that Mrs Parker and Mrs Headlington-Bear might have tried to drive out there last night and perhaps they’re stuck somewhere because of the rain,’ the child finished.

  ‘Do you think you can get there in the car, constable?’ the headmistress asked.

  ‘Only if they got no further than the creek near the showground. I heard over the radio that the road there is now blocked too,’ the man replied.

  The headmistress looked at Millie and Alice-Miranda. ‘Do you think you can reach Wood End on your ponies?’

  The two girls nodded. ‘The rain seems to be easing off and we promise not to do anything silly,’ Alice-Miranda reassured Miss Grimm.

  The headmistress sighed. ‘I’m not entirely comfortable with this.’

  ‘Please, Miss Grimm, we’ll be extra careful,’ Alice-Miranda begged.

  ‘All right, off you go then. And take this.’ She picked up a two-way radio that Mrs Derby kept on her desk, which allowed her to communicate with Charlie Weatherly, the gardener.

  ‘Actually, Alice-Miranda, give me that for a moment,’ said Constable Derby. He fiddled with the dials and there was a blast of static. He winked. ‘I’ve tuned it to my police radio frequency. Just for today.’

  Miss Grimm smiled. She’d often wondered how Mrs Derby seemed to know what was going on around town well before anyone else did.

  The two girls said goodbye and rushed off to the boarding house to get changed into their riding gear. Jacinta was about to skulk off too but Miss Grimm asked her to stay behind as there was something important she needed to discuss with her.

  ‘I’ll head off and see how far I can get on the road,’ the constable promised. ‘And don’t worry, Jacinta. We’ll find them.’

  But Jacinta wasn’t convinced. It was her news that had sent her mother and Mrs Parker out in the middle of a terrible night. If anything had happened, she would never forgive herself.

  The driving rain had eased to drizzle as the girls set off on Bony and Chops. The ground was sodden and slippery so they took the ride at a careful trot.

  The creek at Gertrude’s Grove was swollen, but judging by the flattened vegetation it had already gone down considerably from its peak.

  The radio in Alice-Miranda’s saddlebag crackled. Bonaparte skipped sideways, startled by the noise.

  ‘It’s all right, Bony, don’t be scared,’ the child soothed and gave him a reassuring pat. She pulled gently on the reins, then retrieved the radio from the bag.

  ‘Alice-Miranda, are you there?’ The constable’s voice came through remarkably clearly.

  She pushed the speaker button and said, ‘Hello Constable Derby. Yes, we’re here.’

  ‘I’ve made it further than I expected to. I’m on the driveway at Wood End,’ the man reported. ‘There’s a large tree down on the road. I’m going to keep coming on foot, so hopefully I’ll meet you at the bridge shortly.’

  ‘We’re almost there,’ Alice-Miranda informed him. ‘See you soon.’ She placed the radio back in the saddlebag.

  ‘You forgot to say over and out,’ Millie said, smiling.

  Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘Oops, I’m not very good with that sort of thing.’

  Millie glanced around at the overhanging branches. Weighed down with water in the dull morning light, they looked more ghostly than ever. ‘Come on, let’s get moving. I hate these woods.’ Millie urged Chops forward.

  They trotted on and reached the crest where they had spotted Ursula’s car the day before.

  ‘Oh no!’ Alice-Miranda gasped. The stream was raging and the bridge, which had been rickety to say the least, was now completely washed away. Worse still, there were muddy tyre tracks leading towards where it had been.

  ‘Someone’s been here,’ Millie called over the rushing water. ‘Do you think it could have been Mrs Parker and Mrs Headlington-Bear?’

  Alice-Miranda shook her head. ‘I hope not.’

  ‘Look, over there!’ Millie pointed.

  Mr Frost and Mr Parker were walking down the track on the far side of the stream, with the two cocker spaniels beside them.

  Alice-Miranda shouted, ‘Mr Frost, Mr Parker, hello.’ She waved her arms and Bonaparte whinnied.

  Stan and Reg saw the girls.

  ‘Hello there!’ they called back.

  Alice-Miranda pointed to the bridge. ‘We think someone’s tried to cross there last night.’

  Stan Frost’s eyes widened as he realised the bridge he had failed to maintain had been completely swept away. ‘But the bridge is gone!’

  Reg shook his head. ‘They didn’t have a hope of getting across there.’ His eyes searched for tyre tracks on their side of the stream but the ground was clear.

  ‘Do you know who it was?’ Stan ca
lled back. He felt as if his stomach was lined with rocks. His mouth was parched and his breathing had become shallow. Terrible memories flashed through his mind. Not again. Surely they couldn’t lose anyone else.

  ‘We think it was Mrs Parker and our friend’s mother, Mrs Headlington-Bear,’ said Alice-Miranda. She hopped down from Bony’s back and walked him as close to the water as she dared. Millie did the same. The tyre tracks led straight to the point where the bridge had been.

  Reg Parker gulped and his lip began to quiver. ‘Myrtle? My Myrtle? It’s my fault. I should have gone home as soon as you lot told me what had happened. I’ll never forgive myself if anything’s happened to her.’

  ‘We need to go that way,’ Alice-Miranda called back, pointing at the torrent.

  Stan nodded.

  Alice-Miranda mounted Bony and the little pony spun around. She urged him forward, and with Millie and Chops close behind, began to walk downstream. The ponies could cover much more ground than the men on the other side and within a few minutes Mr Frost and Mr Parker were out of sight.

  It was even more obvious now that the stream had been much higher during the night. There was debris strewn all around, which made it harder for the girls to pick their way along the bank.

  ‘You should call Constable Derby,’ Millie said.

  Alice-Miranda nodded and pulled the radio out of her saddlebag. ‘Constable Derby, come in.’ She waited for him to reply. The static crackled. She spoke again but there was nothing.

  ‘Come on, Millie, if Mrs Parker and Mrs Headlington-Bear were washed away there’s still a chance they’re all right. We need to find them, fast.’

  Bonaparte began to snort. He whinnied loudly and pawed at the ground, refusing to go any further.

  ‘What is it, Bony?’ The child scanned the banks ahead of her but couldn’t see anything. Bony threw his head up and down. Suddenly, Alice-Miranda saw it. ‘Oh my goodness!’ She dug her heels into the pony’s flank and he charged forward, slipping sideways on the muddy bank.

  ‘What is it?’ Millie couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

  ‘Up there!’ Alice-Miranda pointed into the trees. Firmly wedged in a giant V of an ancient oak tree was Myrtle Parker’s little red hatchback. ‘Mrs Parker, Mrs Headlington-Bear, are you there?’

  Inside the car, Ambrosia Headlington-Bear and Myrtle Parker had spent a very frightening and uncomfortable night waiting to be rescued. Both of them had been knocked out cold after their rollicking ride downstream. When Ambrosia regained consciousness she’d tried to open her door, and found that it was stuck fast. It wasn’t until she looked out the window that she realised where they were. The revelation had caused Myrtle to faint as soon as she’d come to. After that, they’d both dozed on and off during the night. They stayed as still as possible, trying not to upset the balance of the car.

  ‘Did you hear that, Myrtle?’ Ambrosia wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her.

  Myrtle stirred and slowly opened her eyes. ‘What?’

  ‘Someone’s out there.’ Ambrosia peered down and saw Alice-Miranda and Millie riding towards them. ‘Help!’ she shouted and wound down the window. At that moment she was quite glad that Myrtle’s car was ancient and had old-fashioned window winders.

  ‘Ambrosia’s alive,’ Millie called.

  Both girls jumped off their ponies, tied them to a low branch and raced towards the car. It seemed to be stuck fast.

  ‘Is Mrs Parker okay?’ Alice-Miranda shouted.

  Ambrosia stuck her head out of the window and nodded.

  Alice-Miranda raced back and grabbed the two-way radio out of Bony’s saddlebag, hoping it would work this time.

  ‘Constable Derby, come in,’ she urged. There was a loud crackle and the man’s voice burst through the static.

  ‘Hello, Alice-Miranda, where are you?’

  ‘We’ve found them, and they’re alive!’

  ‘Thank heavens,’ the constable sighed. ‘Are they injured?’

  ‘We can’t tell,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘They’re up a tree.’

  ‘Up a tree?’

  ‘The car is and they’re in it,’ the child explained.

  ‘How far past the bridge are you?’ the man asked.

  ‘Not too far. It was only a few minutes’ ride.’

  ‘Well, hold tight. I’ll be there soon.’

  On the other side of the stream, Mr Frost and Mr Parker came into view.

  ‘They’re up there!’ Millie shouted.

  The two men looked up and were stunned to see Myrtle’s car balancing in the tree.

  Reginald Parker was even more surprised when his wife’s face appeared in the driver’s window. His heart thumped and he began to cry.

  ‘Oh, thank heavens.’ Stan Frost’s shoulders slumped and it looked as if the air had been sucked right out of him.

  ‘Myrtle. My darling, Myrtle. Are you all right?’ Reginald wailed.

  Myrtle turned to Ambrosia. ‘Look at him. Bawling like a baby.’

  ‘Oh Myrtle, he looks sorry to me,’ Ambrosia replied.

  All at once Myrtle broke into shuddering sobs. She wound down the window and called, ‘I love you, Reginald,’ through a haze of tears.

  Constable Derby reached the scene. ‘Goodness, they really are up a creek, or should I say a tree, without a paddle,’ he grinned.

  ‘But at least they’re alive,’ said Alice-Miranda.

  ‘I still can’t believe that you were up a tree, Mummy.’ It was a week later, and Jacinta was helping her mother set the dining room table at Wisteria Cottage.

  ‘I still can’t believe we lived through it.’ Ambrosia Headlington-Bear smiled at her daughter then walked back towards the kitchen. ‘How are those pizzas coming along, Alice-Miranda?’

  Alice-Miranda was busy spreading tomato paste onto a trio of pizza bases, while Millie and Sloane added the toppings.

  ‘Very well, I think,’ Alice-Miranda replied. ‘Does Mrs Parker like pizza?’

  ‘Everyone likes pizza, don’t they? If she doesn’t, there’s salad and pasta,’ Ambrosia replied, glancing at the clock. ‘Speaking of salad . . .’ She turned her attention to the lettuce sitting next to the sink.

  After a long and involved rescue, Ambrosia and Myrtle had escaped their ordeal with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises. Myrtle and Reginald had a tearful reunion, during which he promised to come home and she promised to rein in her unwieldy lists. Reginald had spent a couple of days in hospital having a thorough check-up and was discharged with an extraordinarily good bill of health. His doctor planned to write up the case in a medical journal, which would no doubt attract further attention in the future. For now, Reginald asked that his story stay under wraps until he felt strong enough to speak with the press.

  ‘Alice-Miranda, would you mind taking the salt and pepper shakers through to the dining room?’ Ambrosia asked.

  The girl nodded and disappeared up the hallway.

  ‘Does this look okay?’ Sloane pointed at the pizza she’d just topped with ham and pineapple.

  ‘Ha,’ Millie laughed. ‘That looks like Mrs Parker.’

  ‘Oh my goodness, Millie, I think you’re right,’ Ambrosia giggled. Sloane’s decorating looked like a face, and it bore more than a passing resemblance to Myrtle.

  ‘You can’t leave it like that,’ Millie admonished.

  Ambrosia winked. ‘Oh, I think you should, Sloane.’

  In the dining room, Alice-Miranda placed the salt and pepper shakers on the table. ‘I’m so glad you’re feeling better, Jacinta.’

  Her friend looked up. ‘Thanks.’

  The pair exchanged a secret smile.

  The front doorbell rang, making both girls jump.

  ‘Can you get that, Jacinta?’ her mother called from the kitchen.

  Jacinta walked down the hall an
d pulled open the front door.

  Myrtle Parker was standing on the porch in a rose-patterned dress that made Jacinta’s eyes hurt. Mr Parker was standing behind her.

  ‘Hello Mrs Parker, Mr Parker.’ She extended her arm, welcoming the couple inside.

  ‘Good evening, Jacinta. Mmm, something smells good.’ Myrtle raised her nose in the air then lowered her cheek, which Jacinta dutifully kissed.

  ‘Hello Jacinta.’ Reginald smiled nervously.

  ‘Are you feeling better?’ Jacinta asked.

  Myrtle Parker tsked. ‘Oh, I’m getting there, although I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from the shock of it all.’

  Jacinta had been speaking to Mr Parker, who was about to say something but then thought better of it. The man winked at her and she winked back.

  ‘Please come through into the sitting room. Mummy’s in the kitchen with the girls,’ Jacinta instructed.

  ‘Hello Mrs Parker, Mr Parker.’ Alice-Miranda bounded into the room and wrapped her arms around Myrtle’s middle. She then did exactly the same to Mr Parker.

  Myrtle smiled fondly at the girl. ‘Now that’s what I call a proper greeting.’

  Jacinta rolled her eyes.

  Ambrosia appeared and offered the guests something to drink.

  The doorbell rang again. ‘I’ll get it,’ Alice-Miranda said and raced off down the hall.

  ‘Are you expecting anyone else?’ Myrtle asked Ambrosia, who smiled benignly.

  Ambrosia glanced at the dining room table which had been set for nine. She frowned, wondering why there was an extra place setting. She knew of only one surprise guest.

  Alice-Miranda returned to the sitting room with Stanley Frost in tow.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Myrtle Parker demanded.

  ‘I invited him,’ said Alice-Miranda.

  Reginald Parker stood up and shook hands with Stanley.

  ‘But how did you get here?’ Myrtle asked.

  ‘Someone arranged for the young constable to come and collect me,’ said Stan, smiling at Alice-Miranda.

  ‘And how are you getting home again?’

  ‘I think Mr Frost might need to stay over,’ Alice-Miranda answered on his behalf.